title: Outcome of occupational latex allergy--work ability and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The quality of life (QOL) and work ability of health care workers allergic to natural rubber latex (NRL) were assessed after implementation of regulations on powder-free NRL gloves in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  196 HCW with reported NRL allergy answered a questionnaire (response rate 58%) containing the Work Ability Index (WAI), Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ), and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  63.2% still had NRL-related symptoms during the last 6 month. However on a scale from 0 to 10, the intensity of NRL-related symptoms decreased from 8.5 before to 2.3 after implementation of regulations on powder-free NRL gloves. A higher number of subjects were able to avoid NRL in the private than in the work environment (85% vs. 61%). NRL-related symptoms decreased and WAI increased with successful avoidance of NRL at workplace (b = 0.23, p = 0.003). QOL was only little affected by NRL allergy (mean: MiniAQLQ = 6.0; DLQI = 4.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there was improvement after implementation of powder-free NRL gloves, there is still a considerable number of HCW with NRL-related symptoms. Further investigations on latex avoidance and the cause of persisiting allergic symptoms in HCW with NRL allergy are therefore needed.
authors.affiliation: Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance in the Health and Welfare Services, Hamburg, Germany. albert.nienhaus@bgw-online.de
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nienhaus
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kromark
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raulf-Heimsoth
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van Kampen
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merget
mesh_terms: D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation